Oral

This session will present an overview of some of the most important water-related challenges facing public health in the new century and will highlight the work CDC is engaged in with partners at local, state, national and international levels on both domestic and international water issues. These include improving surveillance systems for waterborne disease and levels of chemical contaminants in drinking water; preventing waterborne disease outbreaks; Estimating accurate population level exposure by geo-referencing spatial extents of community water systems; addressing emerging challenges such as drought, climate change, and water availability, and focusing policy and preventive efforts in domestic issues of chemicals in drinking water, pathogens, such as Legionella, in building distribution systems, and the growing importance of recreational water illness associated with swimming together. The session will also cover the continuing challenges of supplying safe water and sanitation to billions in the non-industrialized world. Participants will gain perspective on the importance of these water-related issues and learn about the work CDC is doing to address these multiple challenges.

Session Objectives: 1) Describe the scope and direction of water-related work occurring at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2) Describe the impact of clean drinking water in global settings 3) Describe the impact of recreational and other uses of water (e.g., cooling towers) on transmission of disease in the U.S.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)